KPMG is today publishing their annual participation report for Europe, offering insight and analysis of key industry trends, revealing a slight increase on the continent.

The survey is based on statistics compiled from 43 European countries with 81% of local golf associations indicated growing or static participation numbers last year, and with only 19% of countries reporting a decline in participation.

Furthermore, the report shows an increase of registered golfers by 2% (+82,584 players), while the report also reveals a decline in total amount of golf courses (24 openings and 52 closures). Unsurprisingly, the research demonstrates that men make up the majority of the total registered golfers across Europe last year (67% ), with women only making up a quarter of the total.

The total percentage of people in Europe participating in golf stays static from previous year at 0,9%.

According to the report, some of the positive growth experienced last year can be traced back to various golf development initiatives implemented in previous years, with an aim to gain and retain golfer throughout Europe.

“These initiatives and the hard work of many other golf industry stakeholders, provide evidence for a consciously optimistic outlook for the game’s development,” the report stated. “Certain markets have demonstrated exemplary performance and highlighted the opportunities a proactive and coordinated approach can achieve.”

To read full report, the KPMG’s Golf Participation Report for Europe 2017 is available for download on www.golfbenchmark.com.

About KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice

KPMG Golf Advisory Practice possesses in-depth knowledge and experience of the business side of the golf, lifestyle real estate, hotel and tourism industries. KPMG has provided professional services to developers of new and owners of existing golf courses, be they stand alone courses or part of an integrated real estate and leisure resort across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and further afield.